About This PhD Profile

Profile Description

The University of Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield is rated consistently in the top 100 QS World University Rankings, priding itself on research-led critical thinking that aims to make an impact in the world. With academics producing world class and internationally recognised research, The University of Sheffield has developed a reputation for research quality. Central to this is our large body of postgraduate research students, over 2000 across our departments and over 600 in the Faculty of Social Sciences. By supporting and engaging with our postgraduate research community, we encourage a friendly, productive and inclusive atmosphere.

As part of The Faculty of Social Sciences, the Doctoral Training Centre ([email protected]) offers research training to support postgraduate research students at all stages of their work. Opportunities to access training at the University of Leeds and the University of York are also available as part of the White Rose Doctoral Training Centre (WRDTC) provision. The DTC facilitates networking between students and provides training in generic, advanced and transferable skills. There is a vibrant and expansive research community which produces doctoral graduates with outstanding skills and flexibility.

Sheffield School of Architecture (SSOA).

A leading centre for research and design, SSOA offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective through combining elements from the arts and humanities, sciences and social sciences, making architecture at Sheffield an impact driven, civic and social discipline. This approach has contributed to the School's reputation as a world class institute, achieving a top five position in the Research Excellence Framework 2014. Alongside this with the highest percentage of ‘world leading' architecture academics in the UK, according to research assessment, Sheffield can offer expert supervision across multiple subject areas.

Research within the school is motivated by the need to be socially and politically engaged; with an emphasis on research and design with real world implications in improving spaces for their users. Themes available for supervision include: Architectural science, focussing on acoustics, lighting, and steel and composite structures. Community and wellbeing, centred on the ‘lived experience' of people and spaces, this examines areas including agency, the home, and urban cityscapes. There is also support in architectural history, particularly urban development and cities as well as supervision for research that encompass interdisciplinary subject areas.

SSOA is interested in innovative PhD proposals, either through written research or through design. The written option is a traditional approach to a PhD, whereas the design option allows for a smaller written piece alongside a robust theoretically informed design proposition.

There is a vibrant, collaborative graduate school, where ideas and inspirations are shared across an open studio environment. With students and staff from international backgrounds, there is a global perspective on the design and research conducted, resulting in diverse research portfolios across the department. Funding is available for PhD scholarships; these are competitive and subject to availability.

Funding Notes

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK). In most cases this will include all EU nationals. However full funding may not be available to all applicants and you should read the full programme details for further information.